Nova Biotechnologica et Chimica 11-2 (2012) 153

137
Cs UPTAKE AND TRANSLOCATION
IN LEAFY VEGETABLE:
A STUDY WITH Lactuca sativa L. GROWN
UNDER HYDROPONIC CONDITIONS

ANNA ŠUŇOVSKÁ, MIROSLAV HORNÍK,

JANA MAREŠOVÁ, MARTIN PIPÍŠKA, JOZEF AUGUSTÍN
Department of Ecochemistry and Radioecology, Faculty of Natural Sciences,
University of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Nám. J. Herdu 2, SK-917 01 Trnava,
Slovak Republic (hornikm@ucm.sk)

Abstract: A hydroponic study involving lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa L.) as a leafy vegetable
was conducted to evaluate the 137Cs uptake and translocation in plant tissues in dependence on the presence
or absence of K+ or/and NH4+ ions in cultivation media according to Hoagland (HM) during 8 d plants
growth under hydroponic conditions. Significant increase of the 137Cs+ uptake by lettuce plants
and the decrease of 137Cs+ translocation efficiency from roots to leaves were observed in 50 % HM deficient
in K+ and NH4+ ions. Speciation analysis using Visual MINTEQ program showed that at micromolar
concentration of CsCl (5 µmol/dm3) in 50 % HM at pH 6.0 and 25 °C, cesium was occurred practically only
in the free cationic Cs+ form − 98.8 %, with minor proportions of other cesium species: CsCl − 0.4 %,
CsNO3 − 0.4 %, and CsSO4- − 0.4 %. Surplus of Cl-, NO3- and SO42- ions in HM causes the increase
of proportions of the cesium species CsCl, CsNO3 and CsSO4-, respectively at the expense of bioavailable
Cs+ form. Radiocesium 137Cs taken up via roots was removed from lettuce leaves with high efficiency
by boiling in diluted NaCl solution. At ambient temperature the extraction of 137Cs with diluted acetic acid
was concentration and time dependent process, and was succeeded by leakage of tissue components
absorbing at 260 nm. These findings are important for the risk assessment of radiocesium entry into the food
chain via contaminated leafy vegetable.

Key words: 137Cs, root uptake, translocation, Lactuca sativa, speciation, food chain

1. Introduction
Contamination of the environment has become a serious problem all over
the world. In contrast to heavy metals, which can present in high toxic levels in all
parts of the environment, radionuclides are generally presented in low concentration,
but from radiological unacceptable impact on live organisms point of view
in non-negligible quantities. Especially, the presence of artificial radionuclides
in the environment poses a serious risk to human health through the food chain.
The artificial sources of radionuclides in the environment represent: testing of nuclear
weapons (GABRIELI et al., 2011), nuclear waste disposal (GRAMBOW, 2008),
accidents resulting from the nuclear power generation as well as manipulation
with nuclear fuel (HU et al., 2010). In the case of the Chernobyl accident in 1986,
the radionuclides released from the reactor that caused exposure of individuals were
mainly radioiodine and radiocesium (UNSCEAR, 2000). These nuclides can be
transferred to humans rapidly from the air via leafy vegetables, milk and other
products of the food chain (ingestion pathway) (TSCHIERSCH et al., 2009).

DOI 10.2478/v10296-012-0018-8
© University of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava

Bereitgestellt von Slovenská poľnohospodárska knižnica | Heruntergeladen 16.01.20 13:15 UTC

154 Šuňovská, A. et al.

From the radiological point of view, the releases of 134Cs (τ = 2.06 y) and 137Cs
(τ = 30.2 y), estimated to have been 54 and 85 PBq, respectively, are the most
important to consider (SOUDEK et al., 2004). The accident of Fukushima nuclear
power plant (NPP) on 11 March 2011 that resulted from the earthquake and tsunami
contaminated large areas with radionuclides consisting primarily of 131I, 134Cs,
and 137Cs (MEXT, 2012). As reported by the Japanese Government to the IAEA
on June 2011, the total amount of radioactivity released into the atmosphere might
have been around 1.5 x 1017 Bq of 131I and 1.5 x 1017 Bq of 137Cs, and the total
radioactivity discharged into the sea might have been around 4.7 x 1015 Bq (RJG,
2011). BAEZA et al. (2012) assume that released radioactivity correspond to
approximately 6 % (131I) and 42 % (137Cs) of the radioactivity released
into the environment after the nuclear reactor accident at Chernobyl.
Radionuclides released into the environment under normal or accidental
functioning of the nuclear facilities, can contaminate plants via root uptake, direct
deposition onto above-ground parts of plant or resuspension of contaminated soil
particles. In the case of a nuclear accident occurring during the growing season, dry
or/and wet deposition of aerosols on cultivated lands are the major and most direct
steps in the food chain contamination (ANSPAUGH et al., 2002). However,
the release of new contamination still persists even after several years.
Also, climate/environmental changes e.g. global warming (DOWDALL et al., 2008)
can play a possible role in distribution of radionuclides in soils as well as
in soil-to-plant transfer processes. Following a nuclear accident during the growing
period, long-lived radionuclides, compared to the time elapsed between contamination
and harvest, could constitute a potential hazard to human when present as residues
in consumed agricultural products. Ingestion of contaminated agricultural foodstuffs
can constitute the major exposure pathway for the contribution to the total dose to
human beings (MADOZ-ESCANDE et al., 2004). It is therefore essential to study
radionuclides uptake and translocation into edible parts of plants (mainly vegetables)
as well as the effect of culinary preparation on radionuclide ingestion risks
(see e.g. ADRIANO et al., 2000). Contamination of the edible parts of „leafy
vegetables“ (salad, for example) can comparatively occur throughout the growing
period and contamination of ground vegetables, such as radishes, generally occurs
through translocation from the contaminated aerial parts and root transfer
from contaminated soil (MADOZ-ESCANDE et al., 2004).
The bioassay using L. sativa L. (lettuce) studies is considered a simple, quick
and sensitive way of evaluating potential environmental risk (GOPALAN, 1999)
and can be successfully applied in soil with a high concentration of heavy metals
of natural and anthropogenic origin (FARRÉ and BARCELÓ, 2003; ESCOTO et al.,
2007; BAGUR-GONZÁLEZ et al., 2011). World production of lettuce in the year
2009 was approximately 24 million metric tons, with a cultivation area of one million
hectares (USDA, 2011). However, the significant production of lettuce is realized
under hydroponic conditions. Hydroponic cultivation has been reported not only to be
associated to higher production yields but also to allow better control
and standardization of the cultivation process, thus reducing overall production costs
(DOMINGUES et al., 2012).

Bereitgestellt von Slovenská poľnohospodárska knižnica | Heruntergeladen 16.01.20 13:15 UTC

Nova Biotechnologica et Chimica 11-2 (2012) 155

Our previous papers reported bioaccumulation and distribution of cesium (137Cs),

cobalt (60Co), cadmium (109Cd) and zinc (65Zn) in tissues of tobacco
(Nicotiana tabacum L.) (VRTOCH et al., 2007; HORNÍK et al., 2007; HORNÍK
et al., 2009; GULDANOVÁ et al., 2010), celery (Apium graveolens L.) (HORNÍK
et al., 2007) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) (HORNÍK et al., 2005; HORNÍK
et al., 2007). Also, the foliar uptake and translocation of zinc (65Zn) in tobacco
(N. tabacum L.) and hop (Humulus lupulus L.) plants we studied (PIPÍŠKA et al.,
2008; MAREŠOVÁ et al., 2012). This paper deals with 137Cs uptake and translocation
in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants as a model of leafy vegetable contaminated
with radiocesium and behaviour of radiocesium after treatment of lettuce leaves
in the context of radiocesium releasing from contaminated leaf tissues.

2. Materials and methods

2.1. Plant material

Seeds of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata L.,) obtained from Seva Seed,
Ltd., CR were germinated and grown in pots filled with commercial garden substrate
(AGRO CS Slovakia, SR) and illuminated by natural sunlight. The plants
were periodically watered with tap water. After 3-4 weeks of pre-cultivation seedlings
were gently removed from the substrate, roots were thoroughly washed by deionized
water for removing of substrate particles and used in hydroponic experiments.

2.2. Hydroponic experiments

Selected lettuce plants with more than 10 leaves (height approx. 10 cm, 3 g wet
weight) from the pre-cultivation phase were transferred into series of 250 cm3
Erlenmeyer flask containing 150 cm3 of 50 % Hoagland medium (HOAGLAND,
1920) spiked with 133CsCl and 137CsCl as a tracer. Cultivation medium was adjusted
with 1 M NaOH to the value pH 6.0.
The composition of the full strength (100 %) Hoagland medium was (mmol/dm3):
MgSO4.7H2O – 1.5; KNO3 – 4.0; CaCl2 – 4.0; NaH2PO4.2H2O – 2.1; Na2HPO4.12H2O
– 0.13; FeSO4.7H2O – 6.4.10-2; NaNO3 – 4.0; NH4Cl – 4.0; NH4NO3 – 2.0; H3BO3 –
0.14; Na2MoO4.2H2O – 2.5.10-4; MnSO4.5H2O – 2.1.10-2; ZnSO4.7H2O – 2.3.10-3;
CuSO4.5H2O – 3.2.10-3.
All flasks were covered with black foil to protect plant roots against the lights
and plants were cultivated under hydroponic conditions in triplicate series at artificial
illumination (4 000 lx) and 16 h light / 8 dark photoperiod. In time intervals aliquot
samples of cultivation media were taken, remaining 137Cs radioactivity
was measured by gamma-spectrometry and subsequently samples were returned back
into the medium. At the same time the reduction of cultivation medium volume
in flasks caused by transpiration activity of plants was recorded and the difference
was compensated by glass balls addition due to keeping of roots submersion in media.
At the end of experiments, lettuce plants were removed from cultivation media, roots

Bereitgestellt von Slovenská poľnohospodárska knižnica | Heruntergeladen 16.01.20 13:15 UTC

156 Šuňovská, A. et al.

were carefully washed in deionized water and incorporated 137Cs radioactivity in roots
and aboveground parts of plants was analysed. Dry weight of roots and leaves was
estimated after 48 h drying at 60 °C.
Growth value (GV) for lettuce plants was estimated according to the equation (1):
m − m0 (1)
GV = t
m0
where mt or m0 are fresh weight of plants at the start or end of experiments,
respectively.

2.3. Extraction of 137Cs from lettuce leaf tissues

One-step extraction of 137Cs from leaves of lettuce plants obtained

from hydroponic experiments in 50 % HM spiked with 137CsCl was performed
by diluted acetic acid under occasional shaking at [biomass] : [extractant] ratio 1 : 50
and 23 ± 2 °C.

2.4. Radiometric analysis

Two gamma-spectrometric scintillation detectors 54BP54/2-X and 76BP76/3

with well type crystal NaI(Tl) (Scionix, NL) and data processing software
ScintiVision-32 (Ortec, USA) were used for determination of 137Cs in cultivation
medium and individual parts of lettuce plants. For energy and efficiency calibration
a library of radionuclides was built by selecting characteristic γ-ray peaks (88.04 keV
for 109Cd, 661.66 keV for 137Cs, 834.81 keV for 54Mn and 1115.52 keV for 65Zn).
Standardized solution of 137Cs in the form of 137CsCl (5.723 MBq/cm3, 20 mg/dm3
CsCl in 3 g/dm3 HCl) was provided from Czech Metrological Institute (Prague, CR).

2.5. Speciation modelling

The proportion of individual Cs ionic forms in cultivation medium was predicted
by speciation modelling software Visual MINTEQ (ver. 3.0) obtained
from GUSTAFSSON (2010) in consideration of total salt concentration in medium,
pH value, ionic strength and temperature.

2.6. Statistical analysis

All analytical determinations were performed in triplicate. Statistical significance

of differences in calculated values of 137Cs distribution and translocation in lettuce
plant tissues on the basis of different cultivation conditions were evaluated by multiple
range test to ascertain differences between individual groups. The level of significance
was p = 0.05 in all cases. Origin 8.5 Pro (OriginLab Corp., USA)
and STATGRAPHICS Centurion ver. 15 (StatPoint, Inc., USA) were used
for graphing and statistical analyses, respectively.

Bereitgestellt von Slovenská poľnohospodárska knižnica | Heruntergeladen 16.01.20 13:15 UTC

Nova Biotechnologica et Chimica 11-2 (2012) 157

3. Results and discussion

3.1. The effect of K+ and NH4+ ions on 137Cs uptake

Uptake and translocation of 137Cs in lettuce plants (L. sativa L.) were studied under
hydroponic conditions. These conditions on the one hand imitate in some details
conditions of soil solution and on the other hand represent one way of commercial
production of lettuce. Thus, from the point of view of soil contamination
with radiocesium the mentioned arrangement of experiments describes only 137Cs
transport in sequence soil solution − plant roots − aboveground parts of plant without
characterisation of sorption-desorption processes between soil particles and soil
solution. It is generally known, that 137Cs shows high affinity to sorption onto clay
minerals (aluminosilicates). From this reason the radiocesium binding in mentioned
soil components is a limiting factor, which determines the behaviour, bioavailability
and transport of Cs into the environment. In generally, these processes are also
affected by chemical speciation of analysed metal or radionuclide in given
environment e.g. the portion of individual ionic form of metal or radionuclide in soil
solution.

Table 1. Chemical speciation of cesium in complete 50 % Hoagland medium (HM), in HM deficient in K+

and NH4+ ions and in HM with surplus of Cl- , NO3- and SO42+ anions. Calculated by Visual MINTEQ
ver. 3.0 for pH 6.0 and 25 °C and C0 = 5 μmol/dm3 CsCl.
Molar fraction [x].100
Hoagland medium
+
Cs CsCl CsNO3 CsSO4-
HM complete 98.8 0.4 0.4 0.4
HM deficient for K+ 99.0 0.4 0.2 0.4
+
HM deficient for NH4 99.0 0.3 0.3 0.4
HM deficient for K+ and NH4+ 99.1 0.2 0.2 0.5
Surplus of Cl- anions*
10-times (60.005 mmol/dm3) 96.2 3.1 0.3 0.4
3
100-times (600.005 mmol/dm ) 80.4 19.2 0.2 0.2
Surplus of NO3- anions*
10-times (50.000 mmol/dm3) 95.8 0.3 3.5 0.4
100-times (500.000 mmol/dm3) 78.5 0.2 21.1 0.2
2-
Surplus of SO4 anions*
10-times (7.950 mmol/dm3) 95.3 0.3 0.4 4.0
100-times (79.500 mmol/dm3) 78.0 0.2 0.2 21.6
* Concentration of anions in 50 % HM (mmol/dm3): Cl- – 6.005; NO3- – 5.000; SO42- – 0.795.

In this context the speciation modelling program Visual MINTEQ for prediction
of individual ionic forms of Cs in Hoagland media (HM) was used. We found
that in 50 % HM containing 5 µmol/dm3 CsCl the cesium was occurred mainly
in the free cationic form Cs+ (98.8 %) with minor presence of CsCl (0.4 %), CsNO3

Bereitgestellt von Slovenská poľnohospodárska knižnica | Heruntergeladen 16.01.20 13:15 UTC

158 Šuňovská, A. et al.

(0.4 %) and CsSO4- (0.4 %) forms at pH 6.0 and 25 °C (Tab. 1). In the case cultivation
media without K+ (KNO3 as source), NH4+ (NH4Cl and NH4NO3 as source) or without
both cations the slight increase of free Cs+ (up to 99.1 %) was observed. On the basis
of CsCl, CsNO3 and CsSO4- existence in 50 % HM under given conditions, it can be
concluded that in the decrease or increase of Cs+ cations portion in media
the concentration of Cl-, NO3- or SO42- anions will play important role. In Tab. 1, it is
evident that if we increase 10-times or 100-times the concentration of mentioned
anions the Cs+ portion in 50 % HM will significantly decrease. This phenomenon can
be expected also in real soil conditions and soil solution.
+ +
1600 2mM K ; 3mM NH4
+ +
2mM K ; 0mM NH4
Cs [Bq/g]; fresh wt.

1400 + +
0mM K ; 3mM NH4
1200 + +
0mM K ; 0mM NH4
1000

800
137

600
Uptake of

400

200

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Time [day]
Fig. 1. The effect of absence or presence of K+ and NH4+ ions in cultivation media on cesium uptake by root
system of lettuce plants (L. sativa L.) during 8 d hydroponic cultivation in 50 % Hoagland medium (HM)
spiked with 5 μmol/dm3 CsCl (36.4 kBq/dm3 137CsCl), pH 6.0 at photoperiod 16 h light / 8 h dark (4 000 lx)
and 25 ± 2 °C. Error bars represent standard deviation of the mean (n = 3). The initial average fresh weight
(fresh wt.) of lettuce plants was 2.68 g and the average increase of plants weight during experiments
was GV = 1.26 ± 0.15 (SD; n = 12 − the mean of values obtained at all cultivation conditions).

Fig. 1 depicts Cs uptake by root system of lettuce plants (L. sativa L.) during
8 days hydroponic cultivation in the complete 50 % HM spiked with 5 μmol/dm3 CsCl
(36.4 kBq/dm3 137CsCl) and in 50 % HM without K+, NH4+ or without both ions.
The choice of plant cultivation time length was adequate to evaluation of 137Cs uptake
and translocation into lettuce plant tissues. SABBARESE et al. (2002) observed that
in his time the maximum radionuclide 60Co or 137Cs transport was reached in the case
of lettuce plants. We found that the significant increase of 137Cs+ uptake by lettuce
plants was observed in 50 % HM fully deficient in both K+ and NH4+ ions. In media
deficient in K+ or NH4+ ions the significant increase of Cs uptake, but in less extent,
was shown for K+ ions. Also, we observed that in complete media or media without K+
or NH4+ ions the Cs uptake by roots of lettuce plants showed time linear dependence.
However, in the case of media deficient in both K+ and NH4+ ions can be seen three
phases: i) the first phase characterized by rapid Cs uptake (after 24 h more than 60 %
of the total Cs was uptake); ii) the second equilibrium phase and iii) the third phase

Bereitgestellt von Slovenská poľnohospodárska knižnica | Heruntergeladen 16.01.20 13:15 UTC

Nova Biotechnologica et Chimica 11-2 (2012) 159

of gradually increasing in Cs uptake from solution of 50 % HM. All these differences

in Cs uptake at different composition of 50 % HM can not be explained on the basis
of differences in chemical speciation of Cs in media (see previous paragraph). Results
of authors SOUDEK et al. (2004; 2006) show, that the concentrations of K+ and NH4+
ions in media play a decisive role as competitive ions (inhibitors) in Cs uptake
by plants. CHOU et al. (2005) found that the transfer of 137Cs from contaminated soil
to lettuce plants (L. sativa L.) was significantly diminished in the case of amended soil
with 100 ppm KCl. These facts are crucial from the point of view of possible risks
of 137Cs transfer from contaminated environment to food chain e.g. through leafy
vegetables. Thus, in the case of the environment (soil or water) deficient mainly in K+
ions, there is a high risk of plants contamination with 137Cs. On the other hand,
the environment rich in K+ or NH4+ ions inhibit the transfer of 137Cs into plants
by competitive relationships between these macroelements and 137Cs+ cations. In this
context, in Table 2 we present determined specific radioactivity 137Cs (Bq/g; fresh wt.)
in lettuce plants at different [Cs+] : [K+], [Cs+] : [NH4+] or [Cs+] : [K+ + NH4+] molar
concentration ratios.
Table 2. Content of 137Cs [Bq/g] (fresh wt.) in lettuce plants (L. sativa L.) after 2 and 8 d growth
in 50 % HM spiked with 5 μmol/dm3 CsCl (36.4 kBq/dm3 137CsCl) at different [Cs+] : [K+], [Cs+] : [NH4+]
or [Cs+] : [K+ + NH4+] molar concentration ratios.
C0 Radioactivity
Molar ratio
[mmol/dm3] [Bq/g]
K+ NH4+ [Cs+] : [K+] [Cs+] : [NH4+] [Cs+] : [ K++ NH4+] 2d 8d
0.0 0.0 - - - 704.7 1032.7
0.0 3.0 - 1 : 600 - 92.7 465.4
2.0 0.0 1 : 400 - - 65.4 311.8
2.0 3.0 - - 1 : 1 000 60.5 301.6

It is generally known that the uptake of Cs+ is operated mainly via two transport
pathways on plant root cell membranes, namely K+ transporters (high-affinity
mechanism) or K+ channels (low-affinity mechanism). However, the physiological
role of Cs+ in plant nutrition until now is no known (MARSCHNER, 1995; WHITE
and BROADLEY, 2000). The change in 137Cs uptake at an external K concentration
in nutrient solution around 0.25 mmol/dm3, coincides with the concentration range
at which the K uptake systems switch between a high-affinity mechanism and a low-
affinity mechanism (FU and LUAN, 1998; WAEGENEERS et al., 2001).
It can be expected that differences in K uptake rates in the genotype level result
in different K depletion and hence different radiocesium uptake rates. WAEGENEERS
et al. (2001) found that these differences are more pronounced in soils with a low K
availability and reported that high radiocesium uptake occurs (i) if the plant species
has a high intrinsic Cs uptake rate at low K concentrations (e.g. barley, lettuce,
bentgrass), (ii) if the species have a high biomass production, resulting in a large
depletion of K in the bulk soil solution (e.g. ryegrass), or (iii) if the species have a high
K uptake rate per unit root surface, resulting in a high rhizospheric K depletion
(e.g. lettuce).

Bereitgestellt von Slovenská poľnohospodárska knižnica | Heruntergeladen 16.01.20 13:15 UTC

160 Šuňovská, A. et al.

3.2. The effect of K+ and NH4+ ions on 137Cs translocation

From the point of view of risks of toxic metals or radionuclides transfer into
the food chain it is important that given metals or radionuclides will not be
accumulated mainly in edible parts of plants. In the Fig. 2 is presented the effect of K+
and NH4+ ions deficiency in cultivation media on distribution of 137Cs in root
and leaves of lettuce plants after 8 days hydroponic cultivation. We found that
the deficiency in K+ and NH4+ ions caused a decreasing the accumulation of 137Cs
in leaves from the total accumulated radioactivity in lettuce plants in comparing
with roots (significant differences are shown in Fig. 2 at the p = 0.05 level based
on multiple range test). In the complete 50 % HM (control) the portion of 137Cs
radioactivity in lettuce leaves represents more than 70 % of the total accumulated
amount of 137Cs. The absence of K+ and NH4+ ions this amount of 137Cs in leaves
decreased on the value less than 40 %. Thus, it can be concluded that the presence
of K+ and NH4+ ions in media increase the Cs transport from roots to leaves
of lettuce plants whereby this effect is additive.
120 root
leaves
100
Cs distribution [%]

80

c
60
b
a
40
a
137

20

0
+ + + +
2 mM K 2 mM K 0 mM K 0 mM K
+ + + +
3 mM NH4 0 mM NH4 3 mM NH4 0 mM NH4

Fig. 2. Distribution of cesium in roots and leaves of lettuce plants grown 8 d at the absence or presence
of K+ and NH4+ ions in HM media. For details see legend in the Fig. 1. Error bars represent standard
deviation of the mean (n = 3). Means with the same letter at columns are not significantly different at the p =
0.05 level based on multiple range test.

For evaluation of 137Cs mobility and translocation in conductive tissues of lettuce

plants we analysed the distribution of radiocesium on the basis of the ratio
of concentration in edible part of plants [Cs]leaves to concentration in root system
of plants [Cs]root. Also, as can be seen in the Fig. 3, in the case of lettuce plants
cultivation in 50 % HM fully deficient in both K+ and NH4+ ions was reached
4.5-times lower value of the concentration ratio [137Cs]leaves : [137Cs]root (Bq/g : Bq/g;
dry wt.) than in control experiments with the value [137Cs]leaves : [137Cs]root = 0.73.

Bereitgestellt von Slovenská poľnohospodárska knižnica | Heruntergeladen 16.01.20 13:15 UTC

Nova Biotechnologica et Chimica 11-2 (2012) 161

Our previous results (GULDANOVÁ et al., 2010) obtained for tobacco plants
cultivated under hydroponic conditions showed that the concentration ratio
[Cs]shoot : [Cs]root increased with increasing HM concentration from the value 0.10
to the value 0.85, particularly at 50 % and 100 % HM, when concentration
of monovalent ions (K+ and NH4+; [K+] : [NH4+] = 2 : 3) were 5 mmol/dm3
and 10 mM, respectively. Similar effect was also observed with sunflower
hydroponics, when shoot-to-root specific 137Cs radioactivity ratio (Bq/g : Bq/g; wet
wt.) increased with increasing concentration of HM from the value 0.10 to the value
0.69 (HORNÍK et al., 2005). CHOU et al. (2005) found that in the contaminated soil
with 137Cs the addition of 100 ppm KCl caused the increase of the transfer factor
of 137Cs for the aboveground and the decrease for the underground parts of cabbage,
spinach, lettuce, radish, rape and clover plants cultured in contaminated soil during 7,
30 or 50 days.
[ Cs]leaves/[ Cs]root [Bq/g / Bq/g]; dry wt.

1,2

1,0 a

0,8 a

0,6

0,4
137

0,2
c
137

0,0
+ + + +
2 mM K 2 mM K 0 mM K 0 mM K
+ + + +
3 mM NH4 0 mM NH4 3 mM NH4 0 mM NH4
Fig. 3. The effect of K+ and NH4+ ions on the [Cs]leaves / [Cs]root concentration ratio of lettuce plants after 8 d
growth in 50 % HM. For details see legend in the Fig. 1. Error bars represent standard deviation of the mean
(n = 3). Means with the same letter at columns are not significantly different at the p = 0.05 level based
on multiple range test.

In the case of contaminated plants is very important to know not only

the distribution of radioactivity in roots and aboveground parts, but also
the distribution in individual segments of aboveground parts (old and young leaves,
fruits, stems). In this term we analysed the specific radioactivity AS (Bq/g; dry wt.)
for 137Cs in individual leaves of lettuce plants (head and wrapper leaves) cultivated
in complete 50 % HM or media without K+ or/and NH4+ ions. We found that
the highest specific radioactivity in individual lettuce leaves was in the case of plants
cultivated in 50 % HM deficient in K+ and NH4+ ions and AS decreased in the order
of plants cultivated in: HM deficient in K+ and NH4+ (7 950 Bq/g) > HM deficient
in K+ (4 160 Bq/g) > HM deficient in NH4+ (3 940 Bq/g) > complete HM
(3 220 Bq/g). Also we determined that values of the specific radioactivity AS in all

Bereitgestellt von Slovenská poľnohospodárska knižnica | Heruntergeladen 16.01.20 13:15 UTC

162 Šuňovská, A. et al.

leaves within the analysed plant were not significantly differed. From this result, it can
be concluded that the uptake of 137Cs in individual leaves of lettuce plant will not be
dependent on the development stage or localization of the leaf.

3.3. Releasing of 137Cs from lettuce leaves

Many papers deal with radionuclide releasing from contaminated vegetables

and other foods during culinary preparation (see e.g. ADRIANO et al., 2000) or during
decontamination by washing of the plant matter after dry deposition of radionuclides
(see e.g. TSCHIERSCH et al., 2009).
In this part of the paper we evaluate the effect of lettuce leaves treatment
on the residual concentration of radiocesium in leaves. All the 137Cs radioactivity
in experiments entered the plant via the roots from 137Cs spiked HM and was localized
within the plant tissues.

100

80
Cs [%]

60
137
Extracted

40

3
20 40 g/dm AA
3
20 g/dm AA
3
5 g/dm AA
0

0 5 10 15 20 25

Time [h]
Fig. 4. One-step extraction of 137Cs from leaves of lettuce plants grown in 50 % HM spiked with 137CsCl.
Extraction with diluted acetic acid (AA) at [biomass] : [extractant] ratio 1 : 50 and 23 ± 2 °C. Leaves
of lettuce with specific radioactivity 370 Bq/g (fresh. wt.) were obtained from hydroponic experiments
described in Fig. 1.

Radiocesium was removable from lettuce leaf biomass with high efficiency
by boiling in diluted NaCl solutions (data not shown). The efficiency of extraction
under mild conditions such as by extraction with diluted organic acids at ambient
temperature was low and time dependent.
Negligible amounts of 137Cs were removed from the lettuce leaves after 1 h contact
with diluted acetic acid and for higher efficiency of the process several hours contact
times were necessary (Fig. 4). The highest efficiency of 137Cs removal was obtained
only after 24 hour treatment with diluted acetic acid. However, at these conditions leaf

Bereitgestellt von Slovenská poľnohospodárska knižnica | Heruntergeladen 16.01.20 13:15 UTC

Nova Biotechnologica et Chimica 11-2 (2012) 163

tissue was significantly damaged, decolorized and into the extraction media were
released cell components absorbed at 260 − 280 nm region, typical for nucleic acid
and proteins (Fig. 5).
The question of Cs speciation and distribution in green plants is not completely
solved. Prevailing part of cesium will exists in a form of free Cs+ ion and the main
barrier of the Cs+ ions translocation are diffuse barriers of the plant cells. In other
biosystems e.g. in basidiomycetes cesium can form complexes with organic ligands
such as badione or norbadione structurally related to the larger pigment family
of pulvinic acids (DESAGE-EL MURR et al., 2006).

1 – 80 g/dm3 AA
2 – 20 g/dm3 AA
3 – 5 g/dm3 AA
4 – 10 g/dm3 AA
1

2
3
4

Fig. 5. UV-VIS spectrum of diluted acetic acid solutions (AA) after 24 h extraction of 137Cs from lettuce
leaves at 23 ± 2 °C. For details see the legend at Fig. 4.

4. Conclusions

The results from hydroponic cultivation of lettuce plants (L. sativa L.) indicate that
the uptake and translocation of 137Cs in plant tissues are significantly affected
by presence and concentration of K+ and NH4+ ions. We found that the significant
increase of 137Cs+ uptake by lettuce plants was observed in cultivation media deficient
in both K+ and NH4+ ions. On the other hand, the absence of mentioned ions in media
caused a decreasing of 137Cs translocation from roots to leaves of lettuce plants.
From the point of view of risks of toxic metals or radionuclides transfer into the food
chain we also evaluate the effect of lettuce leaves treatment on the residual
concentration of radiocesium in leaves. Radiocesium was removable from lettuce leaf
biomass with high efficiency by boiling in diluted NaCl solutions and in the case
of mild conditions with diluted organic acids at ambient temperature low and time
dependent releasing of 137Cs from contaminated lettuce leaves was observed.

Bereitgestellt von Slovenská poľnohospodárska knižnica | Heruntergeladen 16.01.20 13:15 UTC

164 Šuňovská, A. et al.

Acknowledgement: This work was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research
and Sport of the Slovak Republic within the bounds of project CONRELMAT, decree
No. CD-2009-36909/39460-1:11.

References
ADRIANO, D.C., DOSWELL, A.C., CIRAVOLO, T.G., PINDER III, J.E.,
MCLEOD, K.W.: Radionuclide content of selected root vegetables as influenced
by culinary preparation. J. Environ. Radioact., 49, 2000, 307-317.
ANSPAUGH, L.R., SIMON, S.L., GORDEEV, K.I., LIKHTAREV, I.A.,
MAXWELL, R.M., SHINKAREV, S.M.: Movement of radionuclides in terrestrial
ecosystems. Health Phys., 82, 2002, 669-679.
BAEZA, A., CORBACHO, J.A., RODRÍGUEZ, A., GALVÁN, J., GARCÍA-
TENORIO, R., MANJÓN, G., MANTERO, J., VIOQUE, I., ARNOLD, D.,
GROSSI, C., SERRANO, I., VALLÉS, I., VARGAS, A.: Influence of the
Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident on Spanish environmental radioactivity
levels. J. Environ. Radioact., 114, 2012, 138-145.
BAGUR-GONZÁLEZ, M.G., ESTEPA-MOLINA, C., MARTÍN-PEINADO, F.,
MORALES-RUANO, S.: Toxicity assessment using Lactuca sativa L. bioassay
of the metal(loid)s As, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn in soluble-in-water saturated soil
extracts from an abandoned mining site. J. Soil Sediment, 11, 2011, 281-289.
CHOU, F.-I., CHUNG, H.-P., TENG, S.-P., SAN-TE SHEU, S.-T.: Screening plant
species native to Taiwan for remediation of 137Cs-contaminated soil and the effects
of K addition and soil amendment on the transfer of 137Cs from soil to plants.
J. Environ. Radioact., 80, 2005, 175-181.
DESAGE-EL MURR, M., NOWACZYK, S., LE GALL, T., MIOSKOWSKI, CH.:
Synthesis of pulvinic acid and norbadione A analogues by Suzuki–Miyaura
crosscoupling of benzylated intermediates. Eur. J. Org. Chem., 6, 2006, 1489-
1498.
DOMINGUES, D.S., TAKAHASHI, H.W., CAMARA, C.A.P., NIXDORF, S.L.:
Automated system developed to control pH and concentration of nutrient solution
evaluated in hydroponic lettuce production. Comput. Electron. Agr., 84, 2012, 53-
61.
DOWDALL, M., STANDRING, W., SHAW, G., STRAND, P.: Will global warming
affect soil-to-plant transfer of radionuclides? J. Environ. Radioact., 99, 2008, 1736-
1745.
ESCOTO, M., FERNÁNDEZ, J., MARTÍN, F.: Determination of phytotoxicity
of soluble elements in soils, based on a bioassay with lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.).
Sci. Total Environ., 378, 2007, 63-66.
FARRÉ, M., BARCELÓ, D.: Toxicity testing of wastewater and sewage sludge
by biosensors, bioassays and chemical analysis. Trends Anal. Chem., 22(5), 2003,
299-310.
FU, H.-H., LUAN, S.: AtKUP1: A dual – affinity K+ transporter from Arabidopsis.
Plant Cell, 10, 1998, 63-73.
GABRIELI, J., COZZI, G., VALLELONGA, P., SCHWIKOWSKI, M., SIGL, M.,
EICKENBERG, J., WACKER, L., BOUTRON, C., GÄGGELER, H., CESCON,

Bereitgestellt von Slovenská poľnohospodárska knižnica | Heruntergeladen 16.01.20 13:15 UTC

Nova Biotechnologica et Chimica 11-2 (2012) 165

P., BARBANTE, C.: Contamination of Alpine snow and ice at Colle Gnifetti,
Swiss/Italian Alps, from nuclear weapons tests. Atmos. Environ., 45, 2011, 587-
593.
GOPALAN, H.N.B.: Ecosystem health and human wellbeing: the mission
of the international programme plant bioassays. Mutat. Res., 426, 1999, 99-102.
GRAMBOW, B.: Mobile fission and activation products in nuclear waste disposal.
J. Contam. Hydrol., 102, 2008, 180-186.
GULDANOVÁ, J., HORNÍK, M., MAREŠOVÁ, J., PIPÍŠKA, M., AUGUSTÍN, J.:
Bioaccumulation and distribution of 137Cs in tobacco cultivated under hydroponic
conditions. Nova Biotechnol., 10(2), 2010, 95-106.
GUSTAFSSON, J.P.: Visual MINTEQ. Web (April 2010):
http://www.lwr.kth.se/English/Our Software/vminteq/index.htm.
HOAGLAND, D.R.: Optimum nutrient solutions for plants. Science, 52, 1920, 562-
564.
HORNÍK, M., PIPÍŠKA, M., VRTOCH, Ľ., AUGUSTÍN, J., LESNÝ, J.:
Bioaccumulation of 137Cs and 60Co by Helianthus annuus. Nukleonika, 50, 2005,
49-52.
HORNÍK, M., PIPÍŠKA, M., SEKÁČOVÁ, J., AUGUSTÍN, J.: Determination of long
distance transport of Cs+, Co2+ and Zn2+ ions in vascular plants by autoradiography
and gamma-spectrometry. Nova Biotechnol., 7(1), 2007, 33-40.
HORNÍK, M., GULDANOVÁ, J., PIPÍŠKA, M., MAREŠOVÁ, J., AUGUSTÍN, J.:
Effect of chelating agents on phytoxicity and bioaccumulation of heavy metals
in vascular plants. Nova Biotechnol., 9(3), 2009, 271-278.
HU, Q.H., WENG, J.Q., WANG, J.S.: Sources of anthropogenic radionuclides
in the environment: a review. J. Environ. Radioact., 101, 2010, 426-437.
MADOZ-ESCANDE, C., HENNER, P., BONHOMME, T.: Foliar contamination
of Phaseolus vulgaris with aerosols of 137Cs, 85Sr, 133Ba and 123mTe: influence
of plant development stage upon contamination and rain. J. Environ. Radioact., 73,
2004, 49-71.
MAREŠOVÁ, J., REMENÁROVÁ, L., HORNÍK, M., PIPÍŠKA, M., AUGUSTÍN, J.,
LESNÝ, J.: Foliar uptake of zinc by vascular plants: radiometric study.
J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 292, 2012, 1329-1337.
MARSCHNER, H.: Mineral nutrition of higher plants. Academic Press. London,
Great Britain, 1995, 889 pp.
MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport, Science, and technology): Monitoring
Information Of Environmental Radioactivity Level. 2012.
http://radioactivity.mext.go.jp/en/ (Final access 03.05.12).
PIPÍŠKA, M., HORNÍK, M., SEKÁČOVÁ, J., AUGUSTÍN, J., LESNÝ, J.: Influence
of complexing ligands and mineral nutrients on zinc foliar uptake and translocation
in vascular plants. Cereal Res. Commun., 36, 2008, 415-418.
RJG (Report of Japanese Government): Report of Japanese Government to the IAEA
Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety “The Accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima
Nuclear Power Stations”. Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters.
Government of Japan, 2011. http://fukushima.grs.de/sites/default/files/NISAIAEA-
Fukushima_2011-06-08.pdf (accessed 22.10.11.).

Bereitgestellt von Slovenská poľnohospodárska knižnica | Heruntergeladen 16.01.20 13:15 UTC

166 Šuňovská, A. et al.

SABBARESE, C., STELLATO, L., COTRUFO, M.F., D’ONOFRIO, A., ERMICE,

A., LUBRITTO, C., TERRASI, F., ALFIERI, S., MIGLIORE, G.: Dependence
of radionuclide transfer factor on growth stage for a soil-lettuce plant system.
Environ. Modell. Softw., 17, 2002, 545-551.
SOUDEK, P., TYKVA, R., VANĚK, T.: Laboratory analyses of 137Cs uptake
by sunflower, reed and poplar. Chemosphere, 55, 2004, 1081-1087.
SOUDEK, P., VALENOVÁ, Š., VAVŘÍKOVÁ, Z., VAŇEK, T.: 137Cs and 90Sr
uptake by sunflower cultivated under hydroponic conditions. J. Environ. Radioact.,
88, 2006, 236-250.
TSCHIERSCH, J., SHINONAGA, T., HEUBERGER, H.: Dry deposition of gaseous
radioiodine and particulate radiocesium onto leafy vegetables. Sci. Total Environ.,
407, 2009, 5685-5693.
UNSCEAR: Report of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects
of Atomic Radiation to the General Assembly: Sources, Effects and Risks
of Ionizing Radiation. New York, 2000, 156 pp.
USDA (United States Department of Agriculture): <http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu
/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1576> (accessed in Nov/2011).
VRTOCH, Ľ., PIPÍŠKA, M., HORNÍK, M., AUGUSTÍN, J.: Bioaccumulation
of 60Co2+ ions in tobacco plants. Nova Biotechnol., 2007, 41-49.
WAEGENEERS, N., CAMPS, M., SMOLDERS, E., MERCKX, R.: Genotypic effects
in phytoavailability of radiocesium are pronounced at low K intensities in soil.
Plant Soil, 235, 2001, 11-20.
WHITE, P.J., BROADLEY, M.R.: Mechanism of caesium uptake by plants.
New Phytol., 147, 2000, 241-256.

Bereitgestellt von Slovenská poľnohospodárska knižnica | Heruntergeladen 16.01.20 13:15 UTC